"One Lump or Two? Things that suck about being diabetic"

Hello and thanks SO MUCH for the opportunity to show you my first publication! I'm a Type 1 diabetic, diagnosed at the age of 2, 36 years ago. I wholeheartedly believe the need for opening up new approaches and energies to dealing with the disease. And I like to do my fair share of complaining.

When it comes to communicating these things to others, I find that illustration works the best for me. Not only is the humor of my cartoons a way for me to accept things, but the cartoons themselves are a crucial way for me to tell other people about it. There’s a sense of honesty that is rare; I believe this can really made a difference to people who (like me) are reluctant to embrace traditional supports and therapies.

It’s supposed to be funny, not instructional, so lighten up. To me, it’s about accepting possible complications and dealing with those that fall into your lap like a two ton elephant; about acknowledging and accepting and accommodating the challenges of a diabetic lifestyle. You may not be able to laugh at the future, but you sure can laugh at the present.

It’s a book for diabetics and the people who live, love, and care for them: which is to say, everyone. Laughter aside, ONE LUMP OR TWO raises awareness about diabetes as one of the most serious public health issues of our time—skyrocketing from 30 million to 230 million people in the last 2 decades—making it one of the most rapidly-growing epidemics in the world. The cartoons I’ve created span a period of more than a decade, starting as nothing more than a few doodles and growing to represent a life time of personal struggles and experiences with diabetes. I’ve traded-in denial as my favorite coping mechanism and chosen humor; it seems to be much more productive, for myself and everyone around me.

Please visit Bird Wing Productions at Etsy.com: Individually re-created and up-cycled lamp and shade duos (and now Just Shades). Interior lighting made from found objects, cheerful textiles and trim. Table lamps, floor lamps, or chandeliers, all bases are rewired if necessary. When paired, each piece becomes a one-of-a-kind work of art, allowing the decor of a room or home to instantly and economically be changed. Signed by the artist. Perfectly imperfect. Check out Bird Wing Productions store on Etsy.